Is it against human rights for fat people to be told they can't av an operation until they've lost weight?

Question

My Mum is overwieght but she needs a hip operation and because of this she is in agony with pain every single day and night. Recently she found out that the doctor won't even see her until she is a certain BMI index! I feel this is disgusting as she cannot exercise (she can barely walk) and due to a low metabolism finds it hard to loose weight. So, in the meantime she has to be in a gony knowing that she hasn't even made the waiting list yet!!! Surely this can't be right. Shes worked as a nurse most of her life until she had to retire when she had a car accident (not her fault) paid all that national insurance money and now she needs the NHS srevices she can't get it!!! Is this a against Human rights and does anyone know if she could take this matter to european courts of law?

Personaly, as this is a new law I think the decision is more money based than health and safety based. Ok, so there are greater health risks the more fat you carry but I think its to save the hospitals money and to cut waiting times and lists, especially since T. Blair mad a big deal out of that. My Mum can hardly walk and if she would prefer to take the risk and have an operation to try and put a stop to the agoiny shes in every day then I think she should be allowed to. What will be next? People who have too high a cholesterol will have to get it down before an op? Smokers will have to pack in at least 6 months before an op? It just seems that my Mum is gong to have to suffer more now as everyone knows its hard enough to loose weight when you can exercise regular - she can hardly walk so hard is it going to be for her who already has a slow metabolism. Worst of it she has seen many big people have operations over the years, some needed 2 operating tables and they were ok after!

Answer 1

That's what you get with socialized health-care - rationing of services.

Here's a nice example, where it is fairly evident that people who need this operation will likely be overweight, so they make that a factor in getting it. And I'm sure they avoid keeping statistics showing how many people are refused this operation.

And this is what Hillary and the radical Democrats want for the US. No thanks.

Answer 2

Your mum has been asked to loose weight for her own safety and no amount of protesting or complaining will change the Doctors decision.
The reason she has been asked is because when a person is receiving a medical procedure under general anaesthetic, the amount of anaesthetic they need is determined by their BMI (body mass index). This is their overall body percentage of fat, and medical procedures can be fatal if carried out on people who's BMI is too high or in other words, are too overweight.
In order for anaesthetic to be successful, enough needs to be administered to completely anaesthetise the person. In larger people, the amount that would be required could and would, put tremendous strain on a persons heart,causing them to have a fatal heart attack,whilst on the operating table.
If a surgeon were to perform an operation on an overweight person, they would only do so in extreme circumstances.
If the chance of success can be increased for this operation, just by your mum loosing a small amount of weight, surely it's worth giving a go? Also your mum may find the pain in her hip eases slightly by doing this alone.

Answer 3

This isn't really a question for a lawyer: it's one where medical issues have to take first place.
If your mum is operated on at her current weight, she would be at huge risk of dying, not just because surgery is much more complicated on someone who's overweight, but also because anaesthesia is very much more risky.
An important secondary concern is that the hip replacement itself will be put under great strain and is much more likely to fail.

Rather than trying to fight this as a legal case, push the doctors to get your your mum all the help they can to lose the weight she needs to so the op can go ahead. All the better as she's a former nurse -- health staff look after their own!

I wish you and your mum well.

Answer 4

you could try for Human rights but.......
They may be able to argue that any operation is a serious and dangerous procedure that can result in many complications illness and death. They just want to ensure your mother has the best chance of survival and a successful outcome.

The other sad truth is that it is just not possible for any government to collect enough money in tax and NI to pay for all the drugs and treatments everyone "deserves", let alone all the staff to perform them, administer them and care for the people before and afterwards. So hospital/NHS administrators and their advisers set policies that mean that the treatments go first to the people who will benefit most, and where there is the best chance of a successful outcome.

Answer 5

Overweight people tend to be at a higher risk of complications during an operation that requires a general anaesthetic and require a lot more monitoring during the op.

Answer 6

This is not a rights issue,though it is quite obvious you love your mum. Its a health issue-the guidelines in the profession prevent a operation if it has a high chance at failure or complications due to existing health issues. If your Mum is not getting the support and help to lose enough and get healthy enough for the operation- then that's unethical- make sure she does-and good luck to you and her!

Answer 7

I'm sorry to say this - I'm obese myself - but the doctor is justified.

Going under general anaesthetic is much more dangerous for an obese person, and her prospects for recovery will also be hampered by her weight. It's reasonable for a doctor to refuse treatment where the benefits of treatment would be undermined by lifestyle factors - just like giving a liver transplant to an alcoholic, or a lung transplant to a smoker.

I feel sorry for your mother, but she'll be helping herself by following her doctor's orders. She could try a non-load-bearing exercise like swimming to get in trim.

Answer 8

THIS IS FOR HER OWN GOOD. SHE WILL END UP HAVING A BAD REACTION TO ANAESTHETIC DUE TO THE HIGH DOSAGE THAT SHE WILL NEED TO HAVE.

Her doctor is not doing this to be mean or nasty as you think but because he is a doctor and he is trying to care for your mother's health as he should. If she is serious about having this operation she will arrange to see a nutritionist and dietitian to see how she can go about losing weight if she finds it hard to exercise.

Answer 9

The reason the doctor won't operate--having a high bmi puts her at a much greater risk of death during surgery--those are the facts. I'm sorry.

Answer 10

of direction some human beings can no longer help being overweight for medical causes yet I do imagine that those who merely undeniable overeat ought to make some drastic adjustments of their lives. otherwise they might conflict through from medical issues. everybody likes abit of junk food or a cope with now and lower back yet some human beings take it to extremes and really ruin their well being, health and high quality of existence. i imagine human beings ought to attempt to come across a healthy stability that suits them and their way of existence. it can make a wide change to the way a number of those human beings experience (emotionally and healthwise) and not in any respect merely to the way they seem (which i do not imagine is what this question become ever about).

Answer 11

in order for her to lose weigh sh eis going to need to go to a pool. It will take the weight off of her hip so she can move and get her excersize. If your mother is very over weight it would possibly kill her to do the surgery. It puts alot of preassure on your heart and lungs, it can cause hemerage, and she could also have a stroke. If she can get into water arobics she may be able to lose the weight in order to haver her hip surguy and it is a good way to recover after. to build strength back into her hip.